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How I passed the AWS Developer Exam

· 4 min read
Rajiv Karthik Yanamandra
Rajiv Karthik Yanamandra
Senior Software Engineer @ Compare The Market, Australia

✨ My experience and how I passed the AWS Certified Developer - Associate ✨

Taking the AWS Developer Associate exam was a significant milestone in my journey as a developer. Here's a detailed account of my experience, from preparation to the actual exam day.

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Initial Nervousness​

As the exam day approached, I felt excitement and nervousness. This was the first time I was sitting for an AWS exam, and the uncertainty of what to expect added to my anxiety. However, I was determined to give it my best shot.

Preparation Strategy​

I heavily relied on the AWS Certified Developer – Associate Exam Guide provided on the AWS website to prepare for the exam. The guide outlines all the topics and services within the scope of the exam, which was instrumental in structuring my study plan.

Understanding exam structure​

Understanding the exam domains and their respective weights is essential for effective preparation. Below are the primary domains covered in the AWS Developer Associate exam, along with their percentage weights:

  • Domain-1: Development with AWS Services (32% of scored content)
  • Domain-2: Security (26% of scored content)
  • Domain-3: Deployment (24% of scored content)
  • Domain-4: Troubleshooting and Optimization (18% of scored content)

Building Notes and focusing on Key Services​

During my preparation, I took detailed notes on various AWS resources outlined in the exam guide. This practice was invaluable for consolidating my understanding and quickly revising key concepts. I paid extra attention to the services highlighted in the exam guide to ensure thorough knowledge of each one.

Here's a conceptual representation of the services which are in-scope for the exam.

exam_prep

Self-Study and Additional Practice​

I made sure to gain practical experience at work and also dedicated time to studying services like AWS Lambda functions and DynamoDB. Even though these topics were not part of my job, I understood their importance for the exam and made sure to learn how to use them effectively. I practiced creating and managing Lambda functions and working with DynamoDB through online tutorials and AWS's free tier.

Feel free to check out the links to my notes here:Pdf Link
30-day Prep guideHere's the 30-day preparation timeline
Here's the pdf
In-scope servicesHere's the pdf
About Compute ServicesHere's the pdf
About Storage ServicesHere's the pdf
About Database ServicesHere's the pdf
About Networking and Content Delivery ServicesHere's the pdf
About Container ServicesHere's the pdf

Hands-on Practice​

One of the most beneficial aspects of my preparation was the hands-on experience I gained from my job. I had the opportunity to work with various AWS services, which gave me practical insights that went beyond theoretical knowledge. Some of the key services I worked with include:

  • AWS RDS (PostgreSQL): Integrating our application with RDS provided me with hands-on experience in setting up, maintaining, and querying databases.
  • EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service): I have deployed and managed containerized applications using Kubernetes, which is essential for modern cloud-native applications.
  • ECR (Elastic Container Registry): Understanding how to store, manage, and deploy Docker container images was part of my daily tasks.
  • CodeBuild and CodePipeline: Implementing CI/CD pipelines has helped me understand the end-to-end software development lifecycle on AWS.

Exam Day​

I chose to take the exam at a local test centre rather than online proctored, as I wanted to avoid any disturbances and hassle. On exam day, I arrived at the exam centre feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves. Once I started the exam, I found that my thorough preparation and hands-on experience paid off. The questions were challenging but manageable, and I felt confident in my answers.

My two cents​

  • Create and Experiment! There's no substitute for hands-on practice.
  • Familiarize Yourself with the Exam Guide to ensure your projects are on target.
  • Time Management is Key during the exam.

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Conclusion​

Passing the AWS Developer Associate exam was a rewarding experience. It validated the effort I had put into learning and working with AWS services. For anyone preparing for this exam, I highly recommend following the official AWS prep guide, gaining as much hands-on experience as possible, and making detailed notes to aid your revision.

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🎉Happy coding!!🎉

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